News

INEOS Aromatics Geel and its partners have been recognized for their work to switch to a new radio communications system, ensuring the site’s critical needs as a chemical manufacturer were met with minimum disruption.

INEOS Aromatics relies on radio communications to maximize efficiencies and worker safety at the site. An ageing system needed to be upgraded to something more flexible and future-proof, with clearer audio and network coverage that eliminated previous black spots. Local leadership were also concerned about losing service during the migration.

Due to the critical nature of radio communication in a chemical plant, a dedicated project was set up and the site partnered with PS Radiocom, telecommunications specialists, to switch to Motorola Solutions’ DIMETRA Express system. The result was the required audio and coverage benefits, with no loss of service suffered by users during the transition.

A case study was submitted to the International Critical Communications Awards (ICCA), the most prestigious awards in critical communications – it recognizes products, organizations and individuals that have pushed boundaries and capabilities in the field.

The project made the shortlist and eventually won in the 'Best use of critical communications in mining, oil & gas' category.

Bart Van den Driessche, site manager, says 'I would like to thank our team for working closely with our partners to improve the quality of critical site telecommunications. They did so quickly and in a way that minimized the impact on our ability to operate safely and reliably during the transition - that took a lot of planning and teamwork.'

See below for some of the success factors that contributed to the win.

Congratulations and well done to the following members of the INEOS Aromatics Geel team: Johan Pauwels, Johan Wilms, Julie Van Riet, Peter Raeymaekers and Mark van Gestel.

INEOS Aromatics Geel produces PX and PTA, used all over the world by the polyester industry to manufacture items such as clothes, carpets and food packaging.

Success factors, examples

• Future proof, the ability to integrate new modules in the future
• Web-based integrated applications: health monitor delivers real time updates, radio control manager delivers real time info from each radio, activated or deactivated
• Over The Air Programming (OTAP) functionality, to integrate updates to the radios
• Authentication & Security: only radios with the right authentication can connect to the system, plus option to take radios out of service
• 65 channels, each with their necessary scan groups
• Man down radio functionality for when people work alone during off-hours - radio raises an alarm when in an angled position (45°) for over 20 seconds
• Option to switch to peer-to-peer working with emergency radios if in unlikely event system fails

More information

• Visit the Motorola Solutions website to read the full case study
• Watch the INEOS Aromatics business profile to learn more about how the Geel site plays a key role in our work to lead the polyester industry to a more sustainable future (YouTube link)
• Visit the ICCA website